Video shows thousands of Syrian refugees living in Jordanian desert

An estimated 80,000 people have taken refuge in a three-square-mile part of the Jordanian desert known as the Zaatari refugee camp.

Aerial footage has been captured by BBC’s Lyse Doucet showing the sprawling Zaatari refugee camp located in the Jordanian desert.

The camp is now home to 80,000 Syrian refugees and the video above shows rows of shacks packed together in a three-square-mile area of desert.

The footage supports King Abdullah’s plea for more assistance from the international community.

The king told the BBC: “In the psyche of the Jordanian people I think it’s gotten to a boiling point. Sooner or later the dam is going to burst.”

He says that Jordan is now hosting around 1.4 million refugees, nearly one-fifth of their total population. In contrast, Britain has committed to taking a maximum of 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years.

"How can we be a contributor to regional to regional stability if we're let down by the international community?"

He believes if other countries fail to assist, “it's going to be more difficult for them to deal with the refugee crisis”.

This week, the UN is seeking £5.4 billion in funding to provide aid for 22.5 million people in Syria and neighbouring countries, and the king said it was time for Jordan to be supported by the rest of the world.

“This week is going to be very important for Jordanians to see, is there going to be help - not only for Syrian refugees, but for their own future as well,” he said.